Container with crimped tamper-evident locking means

ABSTRACT

A packaging container has an upper top member and a lower bottom member, and at least one cooperating locking means. Each locking means comprises an upstanding post and a cooperating opening or recess formed in extending lips of the top and bottom members. A weakened fault zone is formed in the immediate region of each post, or of each cooperating opening or recess, and circumscribes the same. The packaging container is locked in its closed position after it has been filled, by crimping the end of each post in an axial direction so as to mechanically deform the post. Any attempt to disengage a crimped post will result in failure of the respective weakened fault zone and may be construed as tampering, and thus the damaged material of the package in the region of the failed fault zone is evidence of tampering.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to containers which are primarily used for foodstuffs, but which may also be used for other products such as medications and the like. The containers of the present invention, especially when used with foodstuffs, are primarily of the sort in which various foodstuffs will be placed into the containers at the place of distribution, so that the containers are packed when they are shipped to the retailer, and remain packed or filled when they are purchased by the consumer. The primary purpose of the present invention, however, is to assure the distributor, the shipper, the receiver, the retailer, and the purchaser, that at no time after the container was packed has it been tampered with. Thus, the present invention provides containers which have special locking means to lock the containers in their closed condition, and which are such that if there has been any tampering with the container in any manner so as to try to disengage the locking means, damage will occur to the locking means, and that damage will be evidence of tampering. Thus, the present invention provides containers with tamper-evident locking means.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

It is found most often in retail stores, particularly those selling foodstuffs, that many products being sold have been pre-packaged at the source from which they have been distributed. This is particularly true when the foodstuffs are such as salad greens, hydroponically grown lettuce, romaine lettuce hearts, strawberries and other berries, prebaked Belgian waffles, cookies or cakes, and other foodstuffs which lend themselves to being pre-packaged. Typically, such products will be pre-packaged at the farm site where they have been grown, or at a farmers' cooperative, or in the case of baked goods from the factory where they have been made.

In all events, one purpose for pre-packaging the goods is to protect them from damage while in transit. Consumers are much more likely to buy items such as salad greens or heads of lettuce, and the like, when they are evidently in pristine quality rather than when they have been evidently taken from a large shipping container and placed into a package by the retailer. Even more so, baked items such as Belgian waffles, cookies or cakes, must be seen to be unbroken or otherwise undamaged in any way. Thus, such products are typically pre-packaged prior to being shipped to the retailer.

In general, foodstuffs of the sort contemplated herein are generally displayed for retail sale in containers which are translucent, so that the purchaser may inspect the product without the necessity for opening the same. Indeed, the purpose of the present invention is to assure that the package has not been opened, because to do so requires that the package be tampered with. It will be understood, of course, the packages of the sort described herein are otherwise reclosable using conventional bead and recess means as are well known in the art. This, of course, means that once the consumer has purchased the product, she will purposely damage the locking means so as to gain access to the product in the container; but in this case, such actions are not tampering because they are purposeful on the part of the consumer. Once the package has been opened, typically the consumer can reclose it using conventional bead and recess closure means, or other closure means as are well known in the art.

It will be understood, of course, that containers in keeping with the present invention may vary considerably in size. For example, a container into which a single portion of salad greens has been placed is typically much smaller than one into which an entire head of hydroponically grown Boston lettuce has been placed.

Still further, the present invention may lend itself to the care giving industry, such as hospitals and nursing homes. Here, individual medications intended for specific patients may be dispensed into specific containers either by the pharmaceutical company, or by such person as a charge nurse or head nurse on a ward in a hospital or nursing home. Very clearly, it is important that there shall be no tampering with specific medications that are intended for specific patients, thereby so as to assure that the intended patient receives the intended medication.

The inventors herein have unexpectedly discovered that typical containers for foodstuffs and the like, with which this invention is particularly concerned, may be configured so as to form a post which may be fitted through an opening or into a recess, so as to place the container in a closed condition. Thereafter, the posts may be crimped or crushed in such a manner that the material from which the container is manufactured can be mechanically deformed in such a manner as to preclude its removal from the opening or recess into which the post has been placed. Moreover, a weakened fault zone can be formed in the region surrounding the base of each post, or in the region surrounding each opening or recess, so that any attempt to unlock the locking means in keeping with the present invention will instead cause a failure of the material in the weakened fault zone. Thus, the locking means per se will remain in its locked condition, but because of the damage which is done in the fault zone in the immediate region of the locking means, evidence of tampering with the container at any time prior to its opening by the ultimate consumer is presented.

It has been noted that deformable posts which can pass through an opening and then recover their configuration due to the elastic memory of the material can, with careful manipulation, be disengaged from the opening in such a manner that any fault zone which has been formed in association with the posts remains intact. However, by mechanically deforming the posts in keeping with the present invention, such disengagement is impossible without significant visual damage to the packaging container; namely, by rupturing the weakened fault zone.

In keeping with the present invention, a weakened fault zone can be formed by the mere act of creating perforations—which may take the form of small holes, slits, or slots—through the thickness of the material in the region where the weakened fault zone is to be created. Alternatively, a weakened fault zone may be formed in the material of the packaging container by reducing the thickness and strength of the material by such means as scoring or indenting the material in the region where the weakened fault zone is to be created.

As will be seen hereafter, the locking means which are at the heart of this present invention may generally comprise two differing configurations. The usual configuration is for there to be a post which may be passed through a cooperating opening. An alternative configuration for a locking means is for a post and a cooperating recess into which the post will be engaged and which will remain therein due to a friction fit. In either configuration, however, the packaging container is locked in such a manner that any attempt to disengage the locking means will result in clearly visual indication of attempted tampering with the packaging container; and the locking engagement is achieved in all instances by crimping or crushing each post in an axial direction so as to mechanically deform the post where it has been passed through a cooperating opening, or so as to mechanically deform the post and its cooperating recess.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART

United States Patent Application Publication 2009/0134180 A1, describes a container which has a plurality of locking mechanisms, where each locking mechanism includes an extending latching portion and a corresponding circular opening for engagement thereof. The locking mechanism is configured so as to securely lock the lid to the base of the container, and an appropriate amount of pulling force must be applied in order to disengage the lid from the base. However, the container as it is described in the publication requires that once the locking mechanism has been disengaged, it must be reclosable. In other words, there is no provision whatsoever to indicate whether or not the container has been tampered with by having been opened prior to purchase and consumption of the product contained therein.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a packaging container having an upper top member and a lower bottom member, wherein the top and bottom members are adapted to fit to one another so as to lock the container in a closed condition by at least one cooperating locking means.

Each cooperating locking means comprises an upstanding post formed in an outwardly extending lip on one of the top and bottom members, and an opening formed in an outwardly extending lip on the other of the top and bottom members.

Each post has a base from which it is upstanding, a stem portion, and a preferably, convex end. A convex end portion is preferred to facilitate crimping of the end, but is not essential. For example, a straight-sided end portion could also be used.

The shape and size of each opening is sufficient to accommodate the stem portion of the cooperating post when placed therein so as to extend therethrough. The convex end can be forced through the opening, while a straight-sided end might pass through with minimal or no resistance.

A weakened fault zone is preferably formed in the immediate region of the outwardly extending lip in which each post is formed, and preferably circumscribes the respective base thereof; the weakened fault zone can be located in the immediate region of the outwardly extending lip in which each opening is formed, and preferably circumscribes the respective opening.

The packaging container is locked in its closed position after it has been filled, by crimping the end of each post in an axial direction so as to mechanically deform at least the end of the post so that the material thereof extends radially outwardly beyond the outer periphery of the cooperating opening through which the post extends, so as to preclude removal of the post from the cooperating opening, after crimping.

Thus, any attempt to disengage a crimped post from its cooperating opening will result in failure of the respective weakened fault zone circumscribing the base of the post, or the opening through which the post has been placed.

Accordingly, any such attempt to disengage a crimped post from its cooperating opening may be construed as tampering, because the damaged material of the package in the region of the failed fault zone is evidence of such tampering.

In certain specific embodiments of the present invention, each respective post may be configured so as to have a lower stem portion, and an upper engagement portion having an outwardly extending bead portion and a convex end, whereby an engagement zone of each post is formed around the periphery of the stem portion at least in the region immediately below the bead portion. In such case, the shape and size of each opening is sufficient to accommodate the stem portion of the cooperating post when fitted therein, and the outwardly extending bead portion is larger than the opening, so that at least said bead portion of the post is temporarily formed as it passes through the opening. Thus, the engagement zone and the opening are in cooperating relationship to each other, and the container may be maintained in a closed condition.

In any packaging container according to the present invention, each respective weakened fault zone may be formed by placing a plurality of perforations chosen from the group consisting of holes, slits, and slots, through the thickness of the material of the outwardly extending lip in which each post is formed, or through the thickness of the material of the outwardly extending lip in which each opening is formed.

Alternatively, the weakened fault zone may be formed by reducing the thickness and strength of the material of the outwardly extending lip in which each post is formed, or the material of the outwardly extending lip in which each opening is formed, by scoring or indenting the material.

Typically, but not necessarily, the material of the respective outwardly extending lips in which the openings are formed is hatched at least in the region immediately surrounding each respective opening.

Also, it is usual that the material of any packaging container in keeping with the present invention is translucent. Moreover, the material from which any packaging container in keeping with the present invention is formed, is typically chosen from the group consisting of polyethylene terephthalate, polystyrene, polypropylene, and vinyl.

In another embodiment of a packaging container in keeping with the present invention, each cooperating locking means comprises an upstanding post formed in an outwardly extending lip on one of the top and bottom members, and a cooperating recess formed in an outwardly extending lip on the other of said top and bottom members.

Thus, the engagement of a post together with its cooperating recess is by friction fit so as to maintain the container in a closed condition, and may only be disengaged by applying sufficient disengagement force so as to overcome the friction fit.

As before, a weakened fault zone is formed in the immediate region of the outwardly extending lip in which each post is formed, and circumscribes the base thereof; or in the immediate region of the outwardly extending lip in which each recess is formed, and circumscribes the respective recess.

Also, as before, a packaging container as described immediately above is locked in its closed position after it has been filled, by crimping the material of each cooperating post and its cooperating recess so as to mechanically deform the same, and thereby so as to preclude disengagement of any post from its cooperating recess.

Accordingly, any attempt to disengage a crimped post from its crimped cooperating recess will result in failure of the respective weakened fault zone circumscribing the base of the post, or the respective recess into which a post has been inserted. Thus, any attempt to disengage a crimped post from its crimped cooperating recess may be construed as tampering, so that the damaged material of the package in the region of the failed fault zone is evidence of tampering.

The present invention also provides a method of locking any packaging container which is otherwise in keeping with the present invention, in which the method comprises the steps of:

(a) filling the container with the intended product;

(b) closing the container so that each post is received in its respective opening or recess, and so that the convex end of each post has passed through its respective opening or into its respective recess; and

(c) crimping each post at least at the convex end thereof in an axial direction of each post, so as to mechanically deform the convex end of the post so that the material thereof extends radially outwardly beyond the outer periphery of the cooperating opening through which the post extends, and thereby so as to preclude removal of the post from the cooperating opening.

Typically, step (c) is carried out using a tool chosen from the group consisting of pliers, a staking machine, and a set of pinch rollers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The novel features which are believed to be characteristic of the present invention, as to its structure, organization, use and method of operation, together with further objectives and advantages thereof, will be better understood from the following drawings in which a presently preferred embodiment of the invention will now be illustrated by way of example. It is expressly understood, however, that the drawings are for the purpose of illustration and description only and are not intended as a definition of the limits of the invention. Embodiments of this invention will now be described by way of example in association with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a typical container of the sort used for produce, in keeping with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view from the top of the container of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side view of the container of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a typical embodiment of a post of a locking means in keeping with the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a partial cross-section of the locking means according to another aspect of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a partial cross-section of a typical locking means that shown in FIG. 4, after it has been crimped or crushed; and

FIG. 7 is a partial cross-section of a typical locking means that shown in FIG. 5, after it has been crimped or crushed.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The novel features which are believed to be characteristic of the present invention, as to its structure, organization, use and method of operation, together with further objectives and advantages thereof, will be better understood from the following discussion.

In each of FIGS. 1, 2, and 3, a typical packaging container in keeping with the present invention is shown generally at 10. The container has an upper or top member 12 and a lower or bottom member 14. As will be discussed hereafter, the top and bottom members 12, 14 are adapted to fit to one another so as to maintain the container in a closed condition by at least one cooperating post and opening means shown generally at 16 and 18.

In the embodiments shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, and in greater detail in FIGS. 4 and 6, the cooperating post and opening means generally comprises an upstanding post 16 and a cooperating opening 18. Each upstanding post 16 is formed in an outwardly extending lip 20, and each opening 18 is formed an outwardly extending lip 22. As shown, the posts 16 are formed in outwardly extending lips 20 which are formed on the top member 12, and the openings 18 are formed in the outwardly extending lips 22 which are on the bottom member 14. It will become evident hereafter that the posts could be formed on outwardly extending lips 22 in the bottom member 14, and the openings could be formed in outwardly extending lips 20 in the top member 12. However, the configuration shown is more general, because it assures that the posts 16 when they are put into place as described hereafter, the posts extend downwardly and are therefore less likely to be damaged in transit.

It will be understood from a review of any of FIGS. 1 to 3, in particular, that reference to outwardly extending lips 20 and 22 is intended only to convey the meaning that the outwardly extending lips extend outwardly from the respective top and bottom members 12 and 14 in such a manner that they are accessible without interfering with the top and bottom members. Obviously, the specific placement or location of the outwardly extending lips 20 and 22 is outside the scope the present invention and is dependent, among other things, on the size and configuration of the respective packaging container.

In a particular embodiment of the invention, as is shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, and in detail in FIG. 4, each post 16 is configured so as to have a lower stem portion 26 and an upper engagement portion 28. However, the upper engagement portion 28 is specifically configured so as to have an outwardly extending bead portion 30 and a convex end 32. By such configuration, it is easily seen that there is an engagement zone 34 formed on each post 16 around the periphery of the stem portion 26 at least in the region immediately below the bead portion 30.

In any event, in any embodiment of the present invention where a post 16 is intended to fit through an opening 18, the post is configured at least so as to have a stem portion 26, a convex end 32, and a base 36.

The shape and size of each opening 18 is such as to accommodate the stem portion 26 of each cooperating post 16 when it is fitted therein. However, it will be noted that the outwardly extending bead portion 30 is larger than the opening 18. In order for the cooperating post to be fitted into the respective cooperating opening 18, at least the material of the bead portion 30 is temporarily deformable so as to pass through the opening 18. Once the bead portion 30 has passed through the cooperating opening 18, then it will be evident that the engagement zone 34 and the opening 18 are in cooperating relationship to each other. The engagement of each bead portion 30 with the underside of the outwardly extending lip 22 in the region immediately surrounding the respective cooperating opening 18 thereby assures that the container 10 will be maintained in its closed position.

However, it must be noted that the engagement of a post 16 with its cooperating opening 18 may only be disengaged by applying sufficient disengagement force so as to once again deform the bead portion 30 and so as to permit it to pass back through the cooperating opening 18. Of course, there may also be some temporary deformation of the region of the lip 22 immediately surrounding the opening 18.

It will be understood, of course, that the purchaser or consumer of the product which is in the container 10 will be required to overcome the locking means by which the container has been locked in its closed condition, but in that case the broken locking means is deliberate, and any consideration of tampering will thereby be discarded. It will also be understood that once the container 10 has been opened, it may be reclosed, and opened and reclosed multiple times, and will remain in a closed but unlocked condition by the cooperation of an upstanding bead 50 and a cooperating recess 52. Such closure means for container of the sort contemplated herein, and variations thereof, are well known to those skilled in the art and form no part of the present invention.

It will also be understood that the configuration of the container 10 as shown in each of FIGS. 1, 2, and 3, is typical of such a container but is not important to the present invention. The container 10, as illustrated, is of the sort generally defined as a clamshell container, having a flexible hinge 56 in the region 58 between the top member 12 and the bottom and 14. However, depending on the size and configuration of the container 10, there may be as few as one tamper-evident locking means (for example, if the container is very small and/or is round), or there may be three or more tamper-evident locking means if the container 10 is exceptionally long as compared to its width. Still further, if the top and bottom members 12, 14 are independent one from the other, and the container 10 is generally rectangular as shown in the drawings, then there will be at least four tamper-evident locking means.

Since the purpose of the present invention is to assure that a tamper-evident locking means is provided for any container 10, it follows that there must be other means whereby any attempt to disengage a post 16 from its cooperating opening 18 will result in a physical evidence of such attempt. This is achieved by providing a weakened fault zone in the material from which the container has been manufactured. By failure of the fault zone it is meant that the material of the container in the region of the weakened fault zone will tear or break. In keeping with the present invention, the weakened fault zone is formed so as to circumscribe the base of each upstanding post 16, or so as to circumscribe the cooperating opening or recess through or into which each upstanding post 16 is inserted, as will become clear hereafter.

In order for failure of the weakened fault zone to happen, a plurality of perforations may be formed in the immediate region of the outwardly extending lip 20 in which each post 16 is formed, and in such a manner so as to circumscribe the base of the post 16. Otherwise, a plurality of perforations may be formed in the immediate region which surrounds a cooperating opening through which each post is passed, so as to circumscribe the opening.

Alternatively, the weakened fault zone may be formed in the region which circumscribes the base of each post 16 by reducing the thickness of the strength of the material of the outwardly extending lip 20 by scoring or indenting the material exactly in the region where the weakened fault zone is to be formed. Once again, a weakened fault zone may instead be formed in the immediate region which surrounds a cooperating opening through which each post is passed, so as to circumscribe the opening.

Referring now to FIG. 4, a plurality of perforations 60 is shown having been formed in the outwardly extending lip 20 and through the thickness of the same. Between each of the perforations 60 there is therefore a weakened and unperforated region 62. In this case, the perforations 60 are shown as slits, and it will be seen that the perforations 60 circumscribe the post 16 at its base. Nonetheless, the purpose of the perforations 60 and the unperforated region 62 therebetween is so as to provide a weakened fault zone. That is to say, upon application of an exertion which is less than the disengagement force to disengage the post 16 from its cooperating opening 18, the fault zone formed by the perforations 60 and regions 62 will fail.

The perforations described herein have been defined as being small holes, slits, or slots. In each case, the presence and formation of those perforations results in unperforated areas being between the perforations; and in each case the material of the container 10 in the region of the base of the post is weakened and will thereby fail. Put in other words, upon failure of the weakened fault zone, there will result a concomitant lack of integrity of the outwardly extending lip in which the post has been formed.

It should also be evident that the number of perforations that is formed is immaterial, so long as the region of the respective fault zones is weaker than the disengagement force which is required to unlock the tamper-evident locking means. Thus, it is possible that as few as two perforations will meet the requirements of the present invention. Otherwise, the number and nature of the perforations may be an artifact of the size of the post, the size of the hole, and the manufacturing equipment on which containers in keeping with the present invention are made.

It is now clearly understood that perforations or scoring or indenting of the material of each respective outwardly extending lip in which either a post or an opening has been formed, where the perforations or scoring or indenting circumscribe the base of each respective post or circumscribe each respective opening, may be employed with the same effect as to failure of the material of any respective outwardly extending lip in which a weakened fault zone has been formed.

It will also be understood, of course, that the posts 16 and their cooperating openings 18 need not be round, but that is the usual configuration. They may be square or rectangular, or otherwise, without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

As will be known to those skilled in the art, it is usual that the material from which containers of the sort contemplated by the present invention, in which all kinds of produce, baked goods, or medications, among others, may be packaged, will generally be translucent. Moreover, as is well-known to those skilled in the art, the material from which containers in keeping with the present invention is generally chosen from the group consisting of polyethylene terephthalate, polystyrene, polypropylene, vinyl; although other materials may be used and are not thereby excluded from consideration in practice of the present invention.

Turning now to FIG. 5, another form of tamper-evident locking means for containers which are otherwise similar to or identical to those described above, is shown at 80. Here, the locking means comprises an upstanding post 82 formed in an outwardly extending lip 84, and a cooperating recess 86 formed in an outwardly extending lip 88. As will be evident from the above discussion, the post and lip 82, 84, and the recess and lip 86, 88, may be formed in either of the top or bottom members of a container; but they are typically formed in the upper top member and a lower bottom member, respectively.

Here, the engagement of the post 82 is generally by friction fit, whereby the container may be locked in its closed condition. The friction fit may only be overcome, and the post disengaged from its cooperating recess, by applying sufficient disengagement force so as to overcome the friction fit. Of course, in keeping with the spirit and scope of the present invention, it will be understood that the configuration of the post 82 and recess 86 may be round, square or rectangular, or otherwise. Moreover, the friction fit may be an enhanced by the provision of such as a laterally extending bead on one of the post or recess, and a cooperating groove on the other of the post or recess.

Once again, the formation of a weakened fault zone in the locking means 80 takes place in the region generally indicated at 92, which circumscribes the base of the post 82; or in the region generally indicated at 94, which circumscribes the recess 86.

It will be very clear that failure of a weakened fault zone 92 or 94 will come as a consequence of a force being exerted to the locking means 80, which force is less than the necessary disengagement force to disengage the post 82 from its friction fit with the cooperating recess 86. Therefore, the nature of the tamper-evident locking means 80 remains the same as has been described above with reference to any of FIGS. 1 to 4.

Moreover, it follows that the materials and manufacturing techniques required for production of a container having a locking means 80 remain otherwise the same as described above, and are well-known to those skilled in the art.

For purposes of securement of the locking means 16, 18, and so as to ensure failure of the weakened fault zone 60, the material of the container in the region of the outwardly extending lips 20 may be hatched in the manner shown at 96 in FIGS. 1 and 2.

Referring now to each of FIGS. 4 to 7, it will be seen that the respective posts 16 and 82 each have a longitudinal axis 70 or 72, respectively. Of course, the axes 70 and 72 also are defined in each opening 18 or each recess 86, respectively, when the posts 16 or 82 have been placed into the respective cooperating opening 18 or recess 86.

Referring now specifically to FIG. 6, there is shown a crimped or crushed post 16 which has been passed through a respective opening 18. That is to say, after the post 16 has been placed into and passed through its respective opening 18, it is mechanically deformed by crimping or crushing so as to seal the container in such a manner that the only way the container can be opened is to tear apart the respective outwardly extending lips 20 and 22. Such action can only occur by breaking the weakened fault zone 62 or 64. Thus, what happens is that when the respective outwardly extending lips 20 and 22 are separated one from the other, the weakened fault zone 62 or 64 fails, and the material of the outwardly extending lip 20 or 22 within the region of the fault zone 62 or 64 which circumscribes the base of the post 16 or the opening 18 rips away from the remainder of the outwardly extending lip 20 or 22, and remains with the end portion 32 of the post 16.

Put in other words, any attempt whatsoever to separate the outwardly extending lip 20 from the outwardly extending lip 22 in the region of the post 16 will result in irreparable damage to the outwardly extending lip 20 or 22, and is therefore a clear and visually evident indication of tampering—except in the hands of the consumer or ultimate user, who must open the container 10 in order to gain access to the contents thereof.

Of course, it has been noted above that the container may thereafter be opened and closed many times by the simple engagement of the bead 50 and the recess 52, as is well known in the art.

Turning now to FIG. 7, there is shown a crimped or crushed post 82 which has been placed into a respective recess 86. In this case, the post 82 has been inserted into the cooperating recess 86, and it is then mechanically deformed by crimping or crushing so as to seal the container in such a manner that the only way the container can be opened is to tear apart the respective outwardly extending lips 84 and 88. Once again, such action can only occur by breaking the weakened fault zone 92 or 94. In this case, when the respective outwardly extending lips 84 and 88 are separated one from the other, the weakened fault zone 92 or 94 will fail. Thus, as before, the material of the outwardly extending lip 84 within the region of the fault zone 92 which circumscribes the base of the post 82, or the material of the outwardly extending lip 88 in the region of fault zone 94 which circumscribes the recess, rips away from the remainder of the outwardly extending lip 84 or 88, and remains with the mechanically deformed post 82 or the mechanically deformed recess 86.

Those skilled in the plastics art will understand that the axial strength of the posts 16, or the cooperating posts 82 with their respective recesses 86, can be quite high; and thus significant force may be required to mechanically deform them. In order to achieve that force, some kind of mechanical device or tool is required, either one which has a mechanical leverage advantage such as pliers; or one having pneumatic or hydraulic force which can be axially exerted along the length of a post 16 or 82, such as a staking machine. It is also evident that in certain circumstances where the cooperating outwardly extending lips extend sufficiently far from the body of the containers, a set of pinch rollers may be employed to mechanically deform the posts, or the cooperating posts.

Accordingly, the present invention also provides a method of locking a packaging container where the top and bottom members are adapted to fit to one another so as to lock the container in a closed condition by at least one cooperating locking means. As discussed, the locking means may comprise an upstanding post which is formed in an outwardly extending lip of the top or bottom member, together with an opening formed in the cooperating outwardly extending lip in the other of the top or bottom member. Alternatively, the locking means may comprise an upstanding post which is formed in an outwardly extending lip of the top or bottom member, together with a cooperating recess into which the post is placed and retained in place by a friction fit. In any event, a weakened fault zone is formed in the immediate region of the outwardly extending lip in which each post is formed, or in the immediate region of the outwardly extending lip in which each opening or cooperating recess is formed, and which circumscribes the base of each post, opening, or recess. The method comprises the following steps:

(a) filling the container with the intended product;

(b) closing the container so that each post is received in its respective opening or recess, and so that the preferably convex end of each post has passed through its respective opening or into its respective recess; and

(c) crimping each post at least at the end thereof in an axial direction of each post, so as to mechanically deform the end of the post so that the material thereof extends radially outwardly beyond the outer periphery of the cooperating opening through which the post extends, and thereby so as to preclude removal of the post from the cooperating opening.

In the event that the locking means comprises an upstanding post and a cooperating recess, then step (c) is as follows:

(c) crimping each upstanding post and its cooperating recess in an axial direction of each post, so as to mechanically deform the material of each respective upstanding post and its cooperating recess, and thereby so as to preclude removal of the post from the cooperating recess.

Typically, either step (c) may be carried out using a tool such as pliers, or a staking machine, or a set of pinch rollers.

It is typical, although by no means intended to be limiting to the scope of the present invention, that the width or diameter of the crimped or crushed post 16, as seen in FIG. 6, or the width or diameter of the crimped or crushed post 82 and recess 86, as seen in FIG. 7, may be in the range of 15% to 40% of the width or diameter of the respective opening 18 or recess 86. Because the crimping or crushing of a post 16, or of a post 82 and its cooperating recess 86, results in permanent mechanical deformation of the material from which the packaging container is manufactured, it will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art that the only manner in which the respective outwardly extending lips may be separated one from another is by exerting sufficient force to cause failure of the weakened fault zone 62, 64, 92, or 94. And of course, any such exertion will result in damage to a respective outwardly extending lip, and is therefore a clear and visual evidence of prior tampering with the packaging container, except in the hands of the consumer or ultimate user.

There has been described containers having tamper-evident locking means whereby the containers will remain locked in their closed position until such time as they are purchased or otherwise placed into the hands of the ultimate consumer. However, each container in keeping with the present invention is such that if the container has in any way been tampered with by an attempt to unlock the tamper-evident locking means, physical evidence of that attempt will be easily visible. Accordingly, the ultimate consumer may be assured that the contents of the container have not been tampered with or changed in any way since they were placed in the container and the container was closed and locked using the locking means in keeping with the present invention.

Is been noted that the present invention lends itself to various configurations of locking means, including particularly those which comprise a post and a cooperating opening, and those which comprise a post and a cooperating recess.

The present invention has also provided a method of ensuring that any locking means in keeping with the present invention will remain locked so that the only way any container can be opened is to destroy a portion of an extending lip which circumscribes each post and which has been formed in such a manner as to provide a weakened fault zone. The method of locking containers in a closed condition requires that the posts, and the cooperating recesses where present, must be crimped or crushed by mechanically deforming them. Because of the force required, a tool is necessary to cause the mechanical deformation, such as pliers, a staking machine, or a set of pinch rollers.

Other modifications and alterations may be used in the design and manufacture of the apparatus of the present invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the accompanying claims.

Throughout this specification and the claims which follow, unless the context requires otherwise, the word “comprise”, and variations such as “comprises” or “comprising”, will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or step or group of integers or steps but not to the exclusion of any other integer or step or group of integers or steps.

Moreover, the word “general” or “generally” when used, is intended to convey the meaning that what is described is usually the case, but that the description is not meant to be restrictive or limiting in its scope.

Still further, use of the terms “she”, “her”, or “hers”, is not intended to be specifically directed to persons of the feminine gender, and could easily be read as “he”, “him”, or “his”, respectively. 

We claim:
 1. A packaging container having an upper top member and a lower bottom member, wherein the top and bottom members are adapted to fit to one another so as to lock the container in a closed condition by at least one cooperating locking means; wherein each cooperating locking means comprises an upstanding post formed in an outwardly extending lip on one of the top and bottom members, and an opening formed in an outwardly extending lip on the other of said top and bottom members; wherein each post has a base from which it is upstanding, a stem portion, and an end; wherein the shape and size of each said opening is sufficient to accommodate the stem portion of the cooperating post when placed therein so as to extend therethrough; wherein a weakened fault zone is formed in one of the immediate region of the outwardly extending lip in which each post is formed, and circumscribes the respective base thereof; or in the immediate region of the outwardly extending lip in which each opening is formed, and circumscribes the respective opening; wherein the packaging container is locked in its closed position after it has been filled, by crimping the end of each post in an axial direction so as to mechanically deform at least the end of the post so that the material thereof extends radially outwardly beyond the outer periphery of the cooperating opening through which the post extends, so as to preclude removal of the post from the cooperating opening; and wherein any attempt to disengage a crimped post from its cooperating opening will result in failure of the respective weakened fault zone circumscribing the base of the post or the opening through which the post has been placed; whereby such attempt to disengage a crimped post from its cooperating opening may be construed as tampering, and so that the damaged material of the package in the region of the failed fault zone is evidence of tampering.
 2. The packaging container of claim 1, wherein said top and bottom portions are connected to each other by a flexible hinge means, and wherein there are at least two cooperating locking means.
 3. The packaging container as claimed in claim 1, wherein the openings are formed in the bottom portion thereof, and the upstanding posts are formed in the top portion thereof, and wherein the end is a convex end.
 4. The packaging container as claimed in claim 1, wherein the openings are formed in the top portion thereof, and the upstanding posts are formed in the bottom portion thereof, and wherein the end is a convex end.
 5. The packaging container as claimed in claim 1, wherein each respective post is configured so as to have a lower stem portion, and an upper engagement portion having an outwardly extending bead portion and a convex end, whereby an engagement zone of said post is formed around the periphery of said stem portion at least in the region immediately below said bead portion; wherein the shape and size of each said opening is sufficient to accommodate the stem portion of the cooperating post when fitted therein; and wherein the outwardly extending bead portion is larger than said opening, and at least said bead portion of the post is temporarily deformable so as to pass through said opening so that the engagement zone and said opening are in cooperating relationship to each other, whereby the container may be maintained in a closed condition.
 6. The packaging container as claimed in claim 1, wherein each respective weakened fault zone is formed by placing a plurality of perforations chosen from the group consisting of holes, slits, and slots, through the thickness of the material of the outwardly extending lip in which each post is formed, or through the thickness of the material of the outwardly extending lip in which each opening is formed.
 7. The packaging container as claimed in claim 1, wherein each respective weakened fault zone is formed by reducing the thickness and strength of the material of the outwardly extending lip in which each post is formed, or through the thickness of the material of the outwardly extending lip in which each opening is formed, by scoring or indenting the material.
 8. The packaging container as claimed in claim 1, wherein the material of the respective outwardly extending lips in which the openings are formed is hatched at least in the region immediately surrounding each respective opening.
 9. The packaging container as claimed in claim 1, wherein the material thereof is translucent.
 10. The packaging container as claimed in claim 1, wherein the material thereof is chosen from the group consisting of polyethylene terephthalate, polystyrene, polypropylene, and vinyl.
 11. A packaging container having an upper top member and a lower bottom member, wherein the top and bottom members are adapted to fit to one another so as to lock the container in a closed condition by at least one cooperating locking means; wherein each cooperating locking means comprises an upstanding post formed in an outwardly extending lip on one of the top and bottom members, and a cooperating recess formed in an outwardly extending lip on the other of said top and bottom members; wherein the engagement of a post together with its cooperating recess is by friction fit so as to maintain the container in a closed condition, and may only be disengaged by applying sufficient disengagement force so as to overcome the friction fit; wherein a weakened fault zone is formed in one of the immediate region of the outwardly extending lip in which each post is formed, and circumscribes the respective base thereof; or in the immediate region of the outwardly extending lip in which each recess is formed, and circumscribes the respective recess; wherein the packaging container is locked in its closed position after it has been filled, by crimping the material of each cooperating post and its cooperating recess so as to mechanically deform the same, and thereby so as to preclude disengagement of any post from its cooperating recess; and wherein any attempt to disengage a crimped post from its crimped cooperating recess will result in failure of the respective weakened fault zone circumscribing the base of the post or the opening through which the post has been placed; whereby such attempt to disengage a crimped post from its crimped cooperating recess may be construed as tampering, and so that the damaged material of the package in the region of the failed fault zone is evidence of tampering.
 12. The packaging container of claim 11, wherein said top and bottom portions are connected to each other by a flexible hinge means, and wherein there are at least two cooperating locking means.
 13. The packaging container as claimed in claim 11, wherein the weakened fault zone is formed by placing a plurality of perforations chosen from the group consisting of holes, slits, and slots, through the thickness of the material of the outwardly extending lip in which each post is formed, or through the thickness of the material of the outwardly extending lip in which each recess is formed.
 14. The packaging container as claimed in claim 11, wherein the weakened fault zone is formed by reducing the thickness and strength of the material of the outwardly extending lip in which each post is formed, or through the thickness of the material of the outwardly extending lip in which each recess is formed, by scoring or indenting the material.
 15. The packaging container as claimed in claim 11, wherein the material thereof is translucent.
 16. The packaging container as claimed in claim 11, wherein the material thereof is chosen from the group consisting of polyethylene terephthalate, polystyrene, polypropylene, and vinyl.
 17. A method of locking a packaging container having an upper top member and a lower bottom member, wherein the top and bottom members are adapted to fit to one another so as to lock the container in a closed condition by at least one cooperating locking means; wherein each cooperating locking means comprises an upstanding post formed in an outwardly extending lip on one of the top and bottom members, and an opening formed in an outwardly extending lip on the other of said top and bottom members; wherein each post has a base from which it is upstanding, a stem portion, and an end; wherein the shape and size of each said opening is sufficient to accommodate the stem portion of the cooperating post when placed therein so as to extend therethrough; wherein said method comprises the steps of: (a) filling the container with the intended product; (b) closing the container so that each post is received in its respective opening, and so that the end of each post has passed through its respective opening; and (c) crimping each post at least at the end thereof in an axial direction of each post, so as to mechanically deform the end of the post so that the material thereof extends radially outwardly beyond the outer periphery of the cooperating opening through which the post extends, and thereby so as to preclude removal of the post from the cooperating opening.
 18. The method of claim 17, wherein step (c) is carried out using a tool chosen from the group consisting of pliers, a staking machine, and a set of pinch rollers.
 19. The method of claim 17, wherein said end is a convex end.
 20. A method of locking a packaging container having an upper top member and a lower bottom member, wherein the top and bottom members are adapted to fit to one another so as to lock the container in a closed condition by at least one cooperating locking means; wherein each cooperating locking means comprises an upstanding post formed in and outwardly extending lip on one of the top and bottom members, and a cooperating recess formed in an outwardly extending lip on the other of said top and bottom members; wherein the engagement of a post together with its cooperating recess is by friction fit so as to lock the container in a closed condition, and may only be disengaged by applying sufficient disengagement force so as to overcome the friction fit; wherein a weakened fault zone is formed in the immediate region of the outwardly extending lip in which each post is formed, and circumscribes the base thereof; wherein said method comprises the steps of: (a) filling the container with the intended product; (b) closing the container so that each post is received in its respective opening, and so that the convex end of each post has passed through its respective opening; and (c) crimping each upstanding post and its cooperating recess in an axial direction of each post, so as to mechanically deform the material of each respective upstanding post and its cooperating recess, and thereby so as to preclude removal of the post from the cooperating recess.
 21. The method of claim 20, wherein step (c) is carried out using a tool chosen from the group consisting of pliers, a staking machine, and a set of pinch rollers. 